Advances in Behavior Genetics – serie

This volume examines behavioral genetic research on temperament and personality from a number of perspectives. It takes a developmental perspective on a number of issues across the lifespan,  focusing on personality and temperament. The first section focuses on the development of temperament and personality. Typically this has involved exploring genetic and environmental contributions to phenotypic stability and instability, but more recently there has been research that examines the etiology of intra-individual change/growth trajectories. The second section examines genetic and environmental contributions to the association between temperament and personality and other behaviors. The third and fourth sections discuss genotype-environment correlations and interactions, and introduces the reader to molecular genetics research on temperament and personality. Chapter 11 will discuss the significance of this type of research and Chapter 12 will provide an example of specific line of research exploring genes associated with temperament.​

Along with psychopathology, cognition has been one of the primary phenotypic focal points of the field of behavior genetics since its inception. Francis Galton’s 1874 examination of eminent families in Britain was among the earliest attempts to investigate whether cognitive achievements run in families. This volume presents current methodologies for understanding cognitive abilities that move beyond the outdated nature vs. nurture paradigm. Recent advances in both collection and statistical modeling of twin data, particularly longitudinal twin data, make this an especially advantageous moment to produce a work that presents a collection of the groundbreaking research on cognitive abilities across the lifespan. This volume presents an overview of the current state of quantitative and molecular genetic investigations into the many facets of cognitive performance and functioning across the lifespan.​

As a dynamic, interdisciplinary field, behavior genetics and its evolution are being followed closely by scientists across the psychological and medical domains. The discoveries surrounding the human genome and the advancement in molecular genetic technologies have  led to studies becoming increasingly sophisticated and yielding  yet more conclusive and useful results. This is certainly the case in the area of child and adult psychopathology. Behavior Genetics of Psychopathology summarizes the state of the field, examiningthe role of genes and environment as they affect common neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. Emphasizing key research areas (comorbidities, twin studies, the integration of methods), the book assesses the current literature, offers up-to-date findings, sorts through lingering controversies, and identifies a clear future agenda for the field. Expertly-written chapters focus on issues of both general salience that shape behavior genetics of psychopathology, to specific disorders of major clinical importance, among them: ADHD: the view from quantitative genetic research.Autism spectrum disorders and their complex heterogeneityGenetic influences on anxiety and depression in childhood and adolescence.Evidence for etiologically-defined subgroups within the construct of antisocial behavior.Sleep and psychopathology: the reasons for their co-occurrence. Behavioral genetic approaches to the etiology of comorbidity.Epigenetics of psychopathology. This combination of timeliness and depth of coverage make Behavior Genetics of Psychopathology a frontline resource for behavior geneticists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists, and is perfectly suited to graduate students looking to join these fields.

Along with psychopathology, cognition has been one of the primary phenotypic focal points of the field of behavior genetics since its inception. Francis Galton’s 1874 examination of eminent families in Britain was among the earliest attempts to investigate whether cognitive achievements run in families. This volume presents current methodologies for understanding cognitive abilities that move beyond the outdated nature vs. nurture paradigm. Recent advances in both collection and statistical modeling of twin data, particularly longitudinal twin data, make this an especially advantageous moment to produce a work that presents a collection of the groundbreaking research on cognitive abilities across the lifespan. This volume presents an overview of the current state of quantitative and molecular genetic investigations into the many facets of cognitive performance and functioning across the lifespan.​

Intriguing new findings on how genes and environments work together through different stages of life take the spotlight in this significant collection. Studies from infancy to late adulthood show both forces as shaping individuals' relationships within family and non-family contexts, and examine how these relationships, in turn, continue to shape the individual. Transitional periods, in which individuals become more autonomous and relationships and personal identities become more complicated, receive special emphasis. In addition, chapters shed light on the extent to which the quantity and quality of genetic and environmental influence may shift across and even within life stages.Included in the coverage:Gene-environment interplay in parenting young children.The sibling relationship as a source of shared environment.Gene-environment transactions in childhood and adolescent problematic peer relationships.Toward a developmentally sensitive and genetically informed perspective on popularity.Spouse, parent, and co-worker: roles and relationships in adulthood.The family system as a unit of clinical care: the role of genetic systems.Behavioral geneticists, clinical psychologists, and family therapists will find in Gene-Environment Interplay in Interpersonal Relationships across the Lifespan a window into current thinking on the subject, new perspectives for understanding clients and cases, and ideas for further study.

This stimulating analysis reviews the broad potential of animal models to foster a deeper understanding of human pathology, strengthen connections between genetic and behavioral studies, and develop more effective treatments for mental disorders. Widely-studied and lesser-used species are examined in models that capture features along the continuum of normative and pathological behavior. The models highlight genetic causes of core features, or endophenotypes, of developmental, internalizing, and externalizing disorders, as well as dementia. Expert contributors address questions ranging from how suitable species are chosen for study to the costs and benefits of using inbred versus outbred strains, and the effects of housing environment on subject animals. Larger issues addressed include how to evaluate the applicability of animal behavioral models to the human condition and how these models can harness emerging molecular technologies to further our understanding of the genetic basis ofmental illness.Included in the coverage:Mating and fighting in Drosophila.Attachment and social bonding.Impulsivity in rodents and humans.Animal models of cognitive decline.Animal models of social cognition.Future directions for animal models in behavioral genetics.A detailed map of where this evolving field is headed, Animal Models of Behavior Genetics shows geneticists, molecular biologists, and cognitive neuroscientists paths beyond established concepts toward a more knowledgeable and collaborative future.

Intriguing new findings on how genes and environments work together through different stages of life take the spotlight in this significant collection. Studies from infancy to late adulthood show both forces as shaping individuals' relationships within family and non-family contexts, and examine how these relationships, in turn, continue to shape the individual. Transitional periods, in which individuals become more autonomous and relationships and personal identities become more complicated, receive special emphasis. In addition, chapters shed light on the extent to which the quantity and quality of genetic and environmental influence may shift across and even within life stages.Included in the coverage:Gene-environment interplay in parenting young children.The sibling relationship as a source of shared environment.Gene-environment transactions in childhood and adolescent problematic peer relationships.Toward a developmentally sensitive and genetically informed perspective on popularity.Spouse, parent, and co-worker: roles and relationships in adulthood.The family system as a unit of clinical care: the role of genetic systems.Behavioral geneticists, clinical psychologists, and family therapists will find in Gene-Environment Interplay in Interpersonal Relationships across the Lifespan a window into current thinking on the subject, new perspectives for understanding clients and cases, and ideas for further study.

As a dynamic, interdisciplinary field, behavior genetics and its evolution are being followed closely by scientists across the psychological and medical domains. The discoveries surrounding the human genome and the advancement in molecular genetic technologies have  led to studies becoming increasingly sophisticated and yielding  yet more conclusive and useful results. This is certainly the case in the area of child and adult psychopathology. Behavior Genetics of Psychopathology summarizes the state of the field, examiningthe role of genes and environment as they affect common neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. Emphasizing key research areas (comorbidities, twin studies, the integration of methods), the book assesses the current literature, offers up-to-date findings, sorts through lingering controversies, and identifies a clear future agenda for the field. Expertly-written chapters focus on issues of both general salience that shape behavior genetics of psychopathology, to specific disorders of major clinical importance, among them: ADHD: the view from quantitative genetic research.Autism spectrum disorders and their complex heterogeneityGenetic influences on anxiety and depression in childhood and adolescence.Evidence for etiologically-defined subgroups within the construct of antisocial behavior.Sleep and psychopathology: the reasons for their co-occurrence. Behavioral genetic approaches to the etiology of comorbidity.Epigenetics of psychopathology. This combination of timeliness and depth of coverage make Behavior Genetics of Psychopathology a frontline resource for behavior geneticists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists, and is perfectly suited to graduate students looking to join these fields.